Commission On Aging survey finds nearly a third of the town will be over 60-years-old in the next decade.

GLASTONBURY — By 2025, the number of residents over 60-years-old will reach 10,927 - more than double of what it was in 1995 and almost a third of the town.

With elementary school populations falling and more older residents moving in with their children, officials need to prepare for the greying of town. That was the message from Eva Bowden, chairwoman of the Commission On Aging, after the results of the group's survey were recently released. The survey is distributed every five years.

Bowden said the goals of the survey are to assess senior citizen's views on the programs offered at the senior center and help guide the commission's and center's staff in meeting the needs. This year's survey not only went out to the general population, but also the town's senior citizen housing developments – Knox Lane, Center Village, Naubuc Green - with the results compiled separately.

The top three programming needs for the general population were: more local and out-of-state travel, chore assistance and health and on-site clinics. Top responses from the housing developments were: travel, fuel assistance and in-home services for the frail.

"There is a feeling that a majority of the center's activities meet a majority of expectations while the staff is flexible, innovative and receptive. Programs are well-attended with waiting lists," Bowden said.

Bowden said as the town ages there will be more demand for services like Dial-A-Ride. Last year there were 24,151 trips compiling 69,820 miles with 586 unduplicated riders. There will also be more one and two-person housing needs and additional staffing at the senior center.

Connecticut is the seventh oldest population state in the country. Bowden said the town's population is 35,600 and there are 13,000 households. Four-thousand households have children in the school system.

"These figures point to the changing demographics we will face," she said. "There is a clear message we need to hear and hear well," she said.

Town Council Chairman Stewart "Chip" Beckett said there has been a shift in thinking with more people opting to age in their house rather than a nursing home.

"We need to know what services are needed on the horizon," he said. "We don't spend a lot of time at the senior center to know the ends and outs of all the programs and demands of residents."